Results 3,781-3,800 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Loan Guarantees. (2 Feb 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Last week, I confirmed that work is under way in my Department on examination of a possible scheme of loan guarantees for the SME sector. This is in line with one of the recommendations in the Mazars report on credit availability. As I also made clear last week, there are significant issues to consider before any final decision can be made. For example, we need to be certain of the extent...

Loan Guarantees. (2 Feb 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I am not having any row with the Minister for Finance, nor is there any row between both Departments on the issue. We have looked at several initiatives on how to stabilise some of our companies, such as the stabilisation fund and the subsidies scheme. We have also introduced other interventions to keep people in work. We have set up a credit supply group in my Department, in which we have...

Loan Guarantees. (2 Feb 2010)

Mary Coughlan: That did not work.

Loan Guarantees. (2 Feb 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The matter has not come to me for final decision. I will make the decision immediately after the work has been done. The best performing schemes have been those in which there was no subsidy. There is a 15% subsidy in the UK scheme. The UK introduced a number of initiatives that fell through and I will not invest time or taxpayers' money in schemes that will not work. I do not want to...

Economic Competitiveness. (2 Feb 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The renewed programme for Government, adopted in October 2009, recognises the importance of productive public investment in research and development and sets a target of achieving a national research and development investment target of 3% of GDP. We believe the significant infrastructure investment underpinning the strategy for science, technology and innovation over the period to 2013 is...

Economic Competitiveness. (2 Feb 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Under the chairmanship of the Minister of State, Deputy Lenihan, a process was undertaken to examine the overall spending on science, technology and innovation in all Departments. On that basis, we saw a 7% overall reduction targeted at the commercialisation aspects and the potential of that spend. One of the issues raised 18 months ago was how we can provide a metric to see that. Under...

Economic Competitiveness. (2 Feb 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I agree that we want to achieve a situation where we can take a thought process and commercialise it. We can do this through indigenous companies, which have done very well. Last year there were 70 HPSUs and the target is for another 70 next year through Enterprise Ireland and its supports. The innovation task force will come to the Taoiseach fairly soon and that will examine new ways in...

Job Losses. (2 Feb 2010)

Mary Coughlan: What about the north east?

Job Losses. (2 Feb 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I take umbrage to those remarks. The Minister of State is more than competent to deal with the responses.

Job Losses. (2 Feb 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Why is the chief executive office of Shannon Development the secretary of the task force?

Job Losses. (2 Feb 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I will do so.

Job Losses. (2 Feb 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I have been hugely supportive of the role of Shannon Development.

Job Losses. (2 Feb 2010)

Mary Coughlan: First, of all the Ministers who have been supportive of the mid-west region, my team and I have been to the fore. Second, as for Shannon Development and its role, Members may have read the suggestion in the bord snip nua report that Shannon Development should be abolished. I have augmented and supported the development of Shannon Development, as well as the appointment of its chief...

Job Losses. (2 Feb 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I do not simply refer to the city of Limerick but to all the other counties within the mid-west region.

Job Losses. (2 Feb 2010)

Mary Coughlan: My Department is working on getting people back to work and on training and investment. These matters are under the stewardship of my Minister of State, who is more than competent to deliver that programme and to deal with the issues pertaining to the mid-west.

Job Losses. (2 Feb 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Moreover, I will continue to have further engagement with those whom I appointed to that task force on the basis of their experience, expertise and ability to take on board the absolute necessities of the mid-west region. I look forward to the chairman's final report and I will work with him to deliver those recommendations, which will be of great importance to the development of that region.

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (2 Feb 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Government is determined to tackle Ireland's unemployment levels and has introduced a range of measures to address the unemployment challenge by § Firstly, supporting the creation of new jobs, § Secondly, protecting vulnerable jobs and, § Thirdly, supporting the unemployed back into employment through job search, training and work experience supports. In terms of supporting the...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (2 Feb 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 107 and 156 together. IDA Ireland is actively encouraging new investment in Donegal in knowledge-based industries. This is part of a focused strategy to replace the traditional clothing and textile industries that have been declining in the North West Region in recent years. During the last 5 years IDA-supported companies in Donegal have created over 663 new...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (2 Feb 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Regulations to bring the Services Directive into law are well advanced but not yet ready for signature. My Department is working with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel with a view to completing the legislation as soon as possible. This will involve, mainly but not exclusively, ensuring that the provisions of the Directive are reflected in the transposing instrument. The timeframe for...

Written Answers — Employment Subsidy Scheme: Employment Subsidy Scheme (2 Feb 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Employment Subsidy Scheme (Temporary) is designed to support the maintenance of vulnerable jobs, help the economy retain its productive capacity and employers retain the labour, knowledge and skills of their workforce thereby supporting a faster return to sustainable growth. The Scheme provides financial support to vulnerable but viable enterprises. As part of the Scheme, enterprises...